What differentiates the Vortex Viper and Vortex Venom? Let us have a look!
Optical advancements have aided shooters in strengthening and refining their aim. As a result, red dot sights also referred to as red dot optics, are among the most popular choices on the market today. They are typically compact electronic sight devices that produce a dot-shaped reticle to indicate where your bullets should fall. They are so popular because they enable rapid target acquisition. They provide a sight image far faster than a flash front sight picture and are very precise.
Two popular red dot sights are the Vortex Viper and Vortex Venom. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages which are worth discussing.
So, what is a red dot sight, and is the Vortex Venom better than the Vortex Viper? Let’s find out!
Red Dot Sight Basics
Rather than referring to a particular kind of sight, the phrase “red dot sight” refers to any form of weapon optic that utilizes a red dot as an aiming point. Some sights use green dots or similar electronic images to indicate the aiming position, such as crosshairs. These are also referred to as red dot sights. Most people who think of a red dot sight often visualize an exposed reflex sight. However, reflex sights are just one kind of red dot sight. Apart from reflex sights, there are also prism and holographic sights.
Benefits of Using Red Dot Sights
Red dot sights combine the benefits of rifle scopes and iron sights. However, they also have features not available in any prior sighting system. The two primary advantages are accuracy and speed. You can pin your target faster and more precisely than iron sights or even magnified optics with an RDS.
Due to the following characteristics, red dot sights enable the quickest target acquisition. The reticle is aligned with the target’s focal plane. So, while the eye is on the target, it is also on the reticle. Thus, while shooting at the target, the shooter does not need to shift their focus or withstand blurred vision. The ability to fire with both eyes open is how red dot sights make aiming faster than iron sights.
Parallax is reduced with red dot sights. In addition, they are constructed in such a manner that their accuracy is not dependent on the shooter’s head position, making them quick and accurate even in difficult situations.
There is no eye relief with red dot sights. The eye relief of a scope refers to the distance between your eye and the rear lens. When a gadget has a short eye relief, your eye must be closer to the sight to view the scope’s whole picture. Instead, with red dot sights, you may mount the scope higher on the rifle, providing a more expansive field of vision and improved shooting accuracy.
Red dot sights emit a tiny red dot, about 1 MOA (Minute of Angle), which does not obstruct your field of vision and ensures the greatest possible degree of shooting accuracy.
Disadvantages of Red Dot Sights
High-quality red dot sights are pretty expensive and generally provide no magnification. If you need magnification, your best choice would be to purchase an RDS magnifier separately, which will cost you more money.
While there are many red dot sights, Vortex Venom and Vortex Viper are pretty popular. So, let us look at the comparison of a vortex venom vs viper.
Vortex Venom
Specs
- Overall weight: 1.1 ounces
- Overall length: 1.9 inches
- Overall width: 1.1 inches
- Overall height: 1.0 inches
- Dot size: 3/6 MOA
- Maximum elevation adjustment: 100 MOA
- Maximum windage adjustment: 130 MOA
- Magnification: 1x
- Windage and elevation adjustments: 1 MOA per click
- Design: Parallax Free
- Brightness: 10 levels
- Eye relief: Unlimited
- Battery type: CR1632
- Housing material: Aluminum
- Surface finish: Anodized Finish
- Water resistance: Waterproof
- Battery Life: 150 hours (highest setting)
- Multi Coatings: Yes
Vortex Viper
Specs
- Overall weight: 2.0 ounces
- Overall length: 1.8 inches
- Overall width: 1.0 inches
- Overall height: 1.0 inches
- Dot size: 6 MOA
- Maximum elevation adjustment: 120 MOA
- Maximum windage adjustment: 120 MOA
- Magnification: 1x
- Windage and elevation adjustments: 1 MOA per click
- Brightness: 10 levels
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Battery type: CR2032
- Housing material: Aluminum
- Surface finish: Anodized Finish
- Water resistance: Waterproof
- Battery Life: 150 hours (highest setting)
- Multi Coatings: Yes
- The Viper Red Dot Sight has a super low-profile making it perfect for use with cut-out slides. 1 MOA windage and elevation adjustments are super sleek and make sighting in a breeze.
- The Viper's low height allows it to co-witness with iron sights and the 6 MOA dot is easy to pick up and get you on target fast. Power and illumination controls are easy to access and adjust.
- The fully multi-coated, ultra-clear lens offers a wide, unobstructed field of view while Armortek coatings protect your lens from oil, dirt, and scratches.
- Waterproof and shockproof construction ensure your Viper Red Dot is ready for all conditions.
- Backed by our unlimited, unconditional, lifetime, VIP Warranty. A fully transferable promise to repair or replace your item if it becomes damaged/defective. Does not cover loss, theft, deliberate damage or cosmetic damage that doesn't hinder performance.
Comparison between Vortex Viper and Vortex Venom
Let us compare the Vortex Viper and Vortex Venom to see which one is better!
- When it comes to battery compartment placement, the Vortex Venom red dot sight excels, making battery swaps easy and quick. The Viper’s battery compartment is situated under the sight. Each battery replacement requires you to remove the sight and re-zero (zero position) it. However, it does have a more compact profile as a result of this design.
- The Vortex Viper red dot sight has an exceptional field of view for a sight of this size. The Vortex Venom reflex sight has a narrower field of view than the Vortex Viper, which may increase reticle acquisition time.
- The Viper’s low profile makes co-witnessing with suppressor-height iron sights simple.
- The Venom’s auto mode reticle brightness function makes it simple to maintain a level reticle in any ambient light situation.
- Both the Venom and Viper are compatible with the majority of handguns equipped with optics.
- The Vortex Viper is only available with a 6 MOA reticle, limiting its usefulness at longer ranges.
- The Venom is a 3 MOA dot, whereas the Viper is available in both 3 MOA and 6 MOA dot configurations. Depending on what you are shooting and at what range, your choice for one of the many sights will vary. A 6 MOA dot would be preferable unless you are shooting bullseye out to around 50 yards.
- The Venom is somewhat larger than the Viper, making it an excellent choice for rifles, while the Viper is an excellent choice for handguns.
Conclusion
Red dot sights are incredibly helpful for any sharpshooter. In the Vortex Venom versus Viper comparison, the Venom comes out on top by a slight margin. This does not suggest that the Viper is not a great option if you are looking for a Micro Red Dot Sight (MRDS). However, the Venom has a slight edge in terms of operating functionality and aesthetics.